Patients Share Their Stories at 6th Annual Seeds of Hope Fundraising Event

Upon realizing just how severely his alcoholism was affecting his young son, Philip Fokas telephoned a friend who was in the master’s program at Loma Linda University to admit that he needed help. This led him to seek treatment at the Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center, also known as the BMC. Fokas has now been a therapist at the BMC for five years. On Oct. 15, Fokas and one of his former patients, 17-year-old Kimberlee Jones, shared their stories of addiction and recovery at the BMC’s 6th annual Seeds of Hope Fundraising Event at the Mitten Building in Redlands. Administrator Jill Pollock has worked at the BMC for 14 years and said that one of the main goals of the event was to “to raise awareness about the behavioral medicine center and stop the stigma of mental health and addiction. [We want] to be able to educate and expose people to it so it isn’t so scary.” At 5 p.m. visitors entered an art exhibit, which featured drawings, paintings, sculptures, and masks made by patients at the BMC. Family therapist Jennifer Fuchs said that making art is one of the leisure activities at the BMC and gives patients a way to “express themselves without words.” The event was open to anyone in the community, said Pollock. “We try to invite people who have not been here before, and [those] who might be made more aware, and those who might be partners with us to make this a safer, healthier community,” she said. “When you look at some of the things that they write and some of the things that they draw, they tell their story in such a moving way—in a different way,” said Fuchs. “People in the community love to see that and I think it makes them feel more connected.” Every place setting at the dinner tables featured a poem and drawing made by the children and youth at the BMC. During the course of dinner, BMC youth passed out to each member of the audience a stone engraved with an inspirational word, such as “Teamwork,” similar to one received by someone who “graduates” from the BMC. Pollock said that the BMC made it a point to keep the fundraiser simple and brief. The program began with introductory remarks from Judge Tara Reilly, Superior Court judge for the State of California. Administrative Director Art Earll led in prayer, which was followed by a performance by Jones, who sang the song “Warrior.” The inspirational lyrics to the song, which Jones explained was about forgiveness, were provided in the program for the audience to read along. Jones, who is currently taking vocal lessons, said that she has been singing since childhood, but it was not until she turned 13 that she began to take it seriously. “I am really excited to sing because I don’t get to perform for people often,” she said. Reilly introduced Pollock on stage to share a few words about the mission of the BMC. The lights were dimmed and Pollock urged the audience to take a moment to remember a time they felt hopeless. She shared that one in four Americans are mentally ill, and that one in 10 have suffered from addiction. Fokas and Jones shared their personal experiences both through a video presentation, “The Story I Never Told,” and by walking onstage together. Fokas shared an audio clip of an interview he gave his then 6-year-old son, in which he asked him how he felt about Fokas’ recovery. “Now he plays with me a lot,” he had answered. “Now my dream has come true. I’ve been waiting 50 years for this!” Before Jones entered treatment, she had engaged in self-harm and alcohol and drug abuse. During her speech she shared that she had been hospitalized for alcohol poisoning. Jones said that upon meeting Fokas she appreciated his honesty about his own issues, which was unexpected coming from an adult. “He didn’t try to pretend everything was fine with his own life,” she said. Jones’s mother, Renee Kanoti, was in the audience. “I am really proud of her for being willing to talk to people about the problem she faced and to raise awareness for those that need help but hesitate to get the help,” she said. Michael Morley, owner of Morley Water Improvement Systems in Redlands, also took the stage to share the story of his own recovery from alcoholism through help from the BMC. Among the guests at the event was State Senator Bill Emmerson (R-Redlands). Emmerson, who graduated from The School of Dentistry at Loma Linda University, said that he believed the BMC to be “a wonderful part of our community.” He said he became involved with the BMC through his wife, Nan, and has personally known people who have gone through treatment and recovery at the BMC. “I have always been a supporter because of some of the stories [we’ve] heard tonight,” he said. “I think we all know somebody,” said Pollock. “We all know somebody—either [in] our family, our church, our work, our neighborhood, [or] in our community that suffers—and so many people don’t understand them.” Every year on the same day, Fokas calls the friend who led him to seek treatment at the BMC to say “Thank you.” “I hope everyone realizes that the BMC really does save lives,” said Jones. “It seems kind of surreal that going into a treatment center can change your life forever. But I think it’s important for people to know that this isn’t just therapy to us. It’s something that changed our lives. It was like hope for us.”